This was the last weekend of the inbound test matches of the non-Aussie Rugby Championship teams and the final inspection of players before the tournament starts on August 20th.
Wales had been competitive in the first half of both games but wilted in the second half: partly because they couldn’t cope with 80 minutes of the pace of play of the All Blacks and partly because their bench did not compare with that of the home team.
Ireland was 16 points ahead at half-time last week but wilted at altitude in Johannesburg. They would welcome playing the decider at a sea level stadium in Port Elizabeth.
Argentina was seeking an undefeated three-match inbound series in their second test against an inexperienced France side, having already beaten Italy. Les Bleus kept the result in doubt until the last seven minutes in the first test and Los Pumas could not take them lightly in the second.
New Zealand v Wales
by Brent Craig
After being competitive for 60 and 50 minutes in the opening two Tests, Wales were utterly outclassed in the third.
Pre-match news
With the series won the All Blacks made wholesale changes which included: a recall for Julian Savea, a debut for Elliott Dixon at 6, and possible debuts for loose forward Liam Squire and prop Ofa Tu’ungafasi from the bench.
Beauden Barrett and George Moala replaced the injured Aaron Cruden and Malakai Fekitoa at 10 and 13. Aaron Smith and Brodie Retallick (who debuted in the same match), played their 50th test together also.
Wales made three changes: props Tomas Francis and Rob Evans coming in for Samson Lee and the injured Gethin Jenkins; Jake Ball was named on the bench for the injured Bradley Davies. Jamie Roberts, in doubt as late as Thursday, was passed fit.
George Moala – scored second try for All Blacks
First half
After early penalties gave Wales a 6-3 lead, Barrett made a trademark break that eventually resulted in wing Ben Smith being adjudged to have scored in the corner. Shortly thereafter Barrett goaled from close range for an 11-6 All Blacks’ lead.
All Black centre George Moala lost the ball over the line but soon after drove over following some brilliant play from Israel Dagg and Aaron Smith: Barrett converting.
Wales then had repeat scrum penalties within metres of the line but couldn’t breach it, turning the ball over to trail at half-time for the first time in the series.
Half-time score: All Blacks 18 – Wales 6
Beauden Barrett – man of the match
Second half
A forward pass from Wales in-goal gifted the All Blacks a five-metre scrum from which Barrett was driven over, converting his own try for a 25-6 scoreline to NZ. Sam Cane then conceded his fourth penalty and was sin binned; but Wales weren’t able to take advantage, as the score was unchanged during his absence.
Barrett, now at fullback, put matters further beyond doubt with a well-worked try near the hour mark; then hooker Dane Coles added to the carnage from turnover ball for a 39-6 lead.
Fifteen minutes of frenetic but fruitless endeavour from both teams ensued before Dagg ran 90 metres to score from another turnover well into extra time.
Full time score: All Blacks 46 – Wales 6.
The Game Changer
Down 6-18 late in the first half, Wales secured a repeat scrum penalty five metres out but were unable to press home any advantage.
Man of the match
Beauden Barrett was the star but Aaron Smith and Israel Dagg weren’t far behind.
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South Africa v Ireland
by “mst”
First half
The third and deciding game started with the Irish getting on the front foot with a good attacking series of phases that ended abruptly with a handling error. The Springboks took the opportunity to put the first points on the board with a penalty goal after Ireland was offside.
South Africa was starting to build momentum when Willie Le Roux received a controversial yellow card for taking out Tiernan O’Halloran in the air competing for a box kick at the eleven-minute mark.
The Irish took advantage of being a man up going 13 phases with Luke Marshall crossing the line for the opening try, with the conversion successful. Ireland 10-3 at 22 minutes.
The Springboks conceded repeated penalties but Ireland was able to convert only one of their two attempts at goal.
The Irish were dominating with 70% possession but the Springboks managed to get more points on the board after being awarded a penalty after dominating the Irish scrum. The Springboks took their chance in the last minute of the first half with a well-weighted cross-field kick by Elton Jantjies allowing JP Pietersen to run on to the ball and cross the line for the Springboks’ first try; the extras were added.
Half-time score: South Africa 13 – Ireland 10
JP Pietersen – one of his best performances
Second Half
Both teams had attacking opportunities ruined by turnovers, or errors, in the opening ten minutes. Ireland started getting momentum on attack but were denied by a brilliant try-saving intercept by scrummie Faf de Klerk. The Springbok scrum helped to increase the lead near the hour mark when Combrinck slotted a long range penalty goal for a score of 16-10 to the home team.
After 70 minutes the teams had scored another penalty each and, down 13-19, Ireland had ten minutes to score a converted try to win.
Faf de Klerk – two defensive plays were critical
With minutes to go and the Irish needing the ball they received a fortuitous penalty giving them one more chance. After 19 phases with the siren sounding, Ireland sent the ball wide and de Klerk made a try-saving ball-and-all tackle that led to a turnover, ending the game.
Final score: South: Africa 19 – Ireland 13
Game changer: The try at the end of the first half gave the Springboks the lead for the first time and they never relinquished it.
Man of the match: Faf de Klerk was everywhere making two critical defensive plays on top of his 16 tackles.
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Argentina v France
by Marcelo Cardoza
On a cold and rainy afternoon in Tucuman, France dominated a lacklustre Pumas team in a hard game, which due to weather conditions and the state of the pitch, looked more like a mud wrestling pit than a rugby field.
The Europeans entered the ground determined to take revenge for the defeat suffered a week ago and head coach Guy Noves gave a clear message to the Argies by picking two enforcer forwards, Picamoles and Maestri.
Their selection was decisive and helped France to subdue the Argies with the physical power of their forwards. They also had playmakers, such as Trinh-Duc, Fickou and Lamerat.
Louis Picamoles influential in this game
First half
Scrumhalf Serin missed two kicks to the posts in the first minutes of the game, but after 25 minutes he opened the scoring with a penalty goal.
Argentina had their chances but also had trouble with their set pieces and could not score with from two lineouts close to the France goal line.
But the France scrum was solid and just when you thought the half-time score would be 0-3, no. 8 Picamoles took off from the back of a scrum before passing to scrummie Servin, who flashed down touch before passing infield to winger Bonneval to score a magic try. Serin converted
Half-time score: France 10 – Argentina 0
Reserve Kelian Galletier takes the ball up
Second half
The French continued to be more intelligent and disciplined than the South Americans. Serin tap-kicked a mark ten metres out from his line and ran to his 22 before kicking to within one metre of the Argentina in-goal. From the 5-metre scrum Trinh-Duc deceived before passing to Lamerat to score.
France 20-0 after the conversion and an earlier penalty. Argentina had no answer to the game plan of France and how they executed it simply.
The Pumas scrum faltered again at 62 minutes, five metres out from their line. Picamoles tapped and ran for flanker Goujon to dive over to score, just as Argentina lock Lavanini applied knees to his back. Yellow card.
Argentina were never comfortable in this game; however to their credit they had no more points scored against them though having only 14 men for ten minutes.
Final score: France 27 – Argentina 0
Man of the match Baptiste Serin
The French victory is hard for the Argentine team since it will have a negative impact on the World Rugby rankings. Nevertheless, there is no time for regrets because these same players will return to action in Super Rugby, but this time with the orange Jaguares jersey.
Game changer
Rémi Lamerat’s try after 50 minutes was the knock-out blow for the Pumas.
Man of the match
Baptiste Serin – his speed and quick decisions were decisive.
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Stats courtesy of Opta Sports and NZ Herald
